SPIRAL-WELDED POLYMER PRODUCTS WITH A CELLULAR WALL AND THERMOPLASTIC PROFILE FOR ITS PRODUCTION

Abstract

The invention relates to production of long spiral-welded large polymer products, as required for pipelines production, chemical, oil and gas and petrochemical industries, agricultural complex and utility services. The object of the invention is to create variants of spiral-welded polymer product with a cellular wall, having the internal or external, or internal and external uniform smooth walls with little material consumption, weight and cost. It should allow making products on site due the use of a thin-walled, lightweight, flexible profile. The object is solved owing to fact that a long hollow thermoplastic profile is used in spiral-welded polymer products, wherein the cross-section of the profile has a form of a closed geometric figure with a convex part having essentially the semi-ring shape and flat part that are connected each other, forming the convex and flat parts of the external surface of the profile, respectively.

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A spiral-welded polymer product with a cellular wall, comprising: a long hollow thermoplastic profile, tightly wound in a spiral in accordance with a size of a required product diameter, where a cross-section of the profile has a form of a closed geometric figure with a convex part having essentially a semi-ring shape, and another part connected to the convex part, forming convex and other parts of an external profile, respectively, adjacent coils of the profile are interconnected by welding, wherein the another part of the external profile surface is flat; the flat outer surface of the profile in a coiled state is oriented inside or outside of the product; the flat outer surface forms a continuous smooth surface of the product, internal or external; and a width L of the flat part of the outer surface of the profile and a height H of the profile are linked by a ratio of L:H between 1.5 and 2.

15. The spiral-welded product according to claim 14, wherein the flat part of the external profile surface comprises at least one additional layer of material with other physical and chemical properties than the profile material.

16. A spiral-welded polymer product with a cellular wall, comprising: two, upper and lower, long hollow thermoplastic profiles, wound in a spiral, having a same cross-sectional shape and external dimensions, in which the lower profile is tightly wound in a spiral to a size of a required internal diameter of the product, and the upper profile is wound over it with an axial displacement to half the width of the coil of the internal profile; a cross-section of each profile is a closed geometric figure with a convex part, having essentially a semi-ring shape, and another part, which form respectively convex and other parts of an external profile surface, adjacent coils of each profile and a coil of another profile, located between these adjacent coils, are interconnected by welding, wherein the another part of each profile outer surface is a flat surface; wherein a flat outer surface of the lower profile is oriented inside the product and forms its continuous smooth inner surface, and a flat outer surface of the upper profile is oriented outside and forms a continuous flat outer surface, and the width L of the outer surface of each profile and the height H of the profiles are linked by a ratio of L:H between 1.5 and 2.

17. The spiral-welded product according to claim 16, wherein a flat outer surface of the lower profile contains at least one additional layer of material with other physical and chemical properties than the material of the lower profile, and/or wherein a flat portion of the outer surface of the upper profile contains at least one additional layer of material with other physical and chemical properties than the material of the upper profile.

18. A spiral-welded polymer product with a cellular wall, comprising: first and second long closed hollow thermoplastic profiles, wound in a spiral such that one profile is arranged above the other; wherein the lower profile is wound in a spiral to a size of a required internal diameter of the product, and the upper profile is wound with an axial displacement to half the width of a coil of the internal profile; coils of the second profile are wound tightly with no gaps between them, and a cross-section of each profile is a closed geometric figure, which comprises a ring form for the first cross-sectional profile, and the second cross-sectional profile comprises a convex part, having essentially a semi-ring shape, and another part, the another part connected to the convex part, which form convex and another parts of the outer surface of the second profile respectively; wherein convex surfaces of the profiles face each other and adjacent coils of each profile and a coil of another profile, located between the adjacent coils, are interconnected by welding, wherein another part of an outer surface of the second profile is flat; wherein the width L of a flat part of the outer surface of the second profile and the height H of the profile are linked by a ratio of L:H between 1.5 and 2, and wherein the second profile is either a lower or upper profile, and a flat part of its outer surface is oriented either inside or outside of the product and forms an internal or external continuous flat surface, respectively.

19. The spiral-welded product according to claim 18, wherein a flat part of the outer surface of the second profile comprises at least one additional layer of material comprising other physical and chemical properties than the profile material.

20. The spiral-welded product according to claim 18, wherein an outer radius of a semi-ring cross-section of the second profile is greater than an outer radius of a ring cross-section of the first profile.

21. The spiral-welded product according to claim 18, wherein a lower location of the second profile comprises at least one additional profile that has a ring cross-section, wound on top of the first profile with an axial displacement to half the width of a coil of the first profile; an outer radius of the ring cross-section of the at least one additional profile is less than or equal to the radius of an outer ring cross-section of the first profile.

22. A spiral-welded polymer product with a cellular wall, comprising: internal, external, and at least one intermediate long closed hollow thermoplastic profiles, wound in coils, where an internal profile is tightly wound in a spiral to a size of a required internal diameter of the product; each subsequent profile is wound over a preceding profile with an axial displacement to half the width of a coil of the internal profile; a cross-section of each profile is a closed geometric figure, a figure of a cross-section of the intermediate profile has a ring shape, a cross-sectional shape of the internal and external profiles comprises a convex part, having essentially a semi-ring shape and a similar outer radius for internal and external profiles, and another part, connected to the convex part, which form a convex and another part of an outer surface of the inner and external profiles; adjacent coils of each profile and a coil of another profile, located between the adjacent coils, are interconnected by welding, wherein the another part of the outer surface of the inner and outer profiles is flat; a flat outer surface of the internal profile is oriented inside the product and forms a continuous smooth inner surface of a product; a flat part of the outer profile surface is oriented outside of the product and forms a continuous smooth outer surface of the product; an external radius of a ring cross-section of the intermediate profile can be equal to or smaller than an outer radius of a semi-ring cross-section of the internal and external profiles, but not less than half an outer radius of a semi-ring cross-section, and the width L of a flat part of the outer surface of the inner and outer profiles and their height H are linked by a ratio of L:H between 1.5 and 2.

23. The spiral-welded product according to claim 22, comprising at least two intermediate profiles, wherein an outer radius, R.sub.i, of a ring cross-section of every odd or every even intermediate profile is less than an outer radius, R, of a semi-ring cross-section of the internal and external profiles, but not less than half of the radius R, and the radius of a ring cross-section of every even or odd intermediate profile, respectively, is equal to the outer radius, R, of a semi-ring cross-section of the internal and external profiles.

24. The spiral-welded product according to claim 22, wherein a flat part of an outer surface of an inner profile comprises at least one additional layer of material with physical and chemical properties other than a material of the inner profile, and/or wherein a flat part of an outer surface of an external profile comprises at least one additional layer of material with physical and chemical properties other than a material of the external profile.

25. A long hollow thermoplastic profile for production of spiral-welded polymer products, comprising: a cross-section which is a closed geometrical figure with a convex part, the cross-section having essentially a semi-ring shape connected to another part, which form, respectively, a convex part and another part of an outer surface of the profile, wherein the another part of an outer surface of the profile is flat and forms a flat part of the outer surface, and wherein the width L of the flat part of the outer surface of the profile and the height H of the profile are linked by a ratio of L:H between 1.5 and 2.

26. The profile according to claim 25, wherein the flat part of the outer surface of the profile comprises at least one additional layer of material with physical and chemical properties other than a profile material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention is illustrated by drawings, where

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of the claimed profile;

[0040] FIG. 2a cross-section of the profile with two additional layers of material to be used in a product with internal flat surface;

[0041] FIG. 3a cross-section of the profile with an additional layer of material to be used in a product with external flat surface;

[0042] FIG. 4a cross-section of the first variant of a single-layer product with a smooth inner surface;

[0043] FIG. 5a cross-section of the first variant of a single-layer product with a smooth outer surface;

[0044] FIG. 6a cross-section of a second variant of a double-layered product with two smooth surfaces;

[0045] FIG. 7a cross-section of the third variant of the product with a smooth inner surface;

[0046] FIG. 8a cross-section of the third variant of the product with a smooth outer surface;

[0047] FIG. 9a cross-section of the fourth, three-layered, variant of the product with two flat surfaces, where the outer radius of the intermediate profile is less than the outer radius of a semi-ring cross-section of the internal and external profiles;

[0048] FIG. 10a cross-section of the fourth, three-layered, variant of the product with two flat surfaces, where the outer radius of the intermediate profile is equal to the outer radius of a semi-ring cross-section of the internal and external profiles. The drawings, together with examples of specific execution, only explain the essence of the claimed invention and do not restrict the scope of the rights defined in claims.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] A long thermoplastic profile 1, the cross-section of which is shown in FIG. 1, is made by extruding a molten thermoplastic polymer through an expansion nozzle with calibration of external surface and of internal surface, if required. The expansion nozzle has a matrix, which cross-section resembles essentially a semi-ring, and a moving rod, having the similar, but smaller cross-sectional outline, which forms the inner surface of a profile. A profile bar is squeezed through an expansion nozzle and extends through the calibration head. Due to the vacuum in the calibrator tank, a bar is tightly pressed to the polished surface of a calibration head and cooled down with water to form a smooth profile surface. The resulting profile has a cross-section having essentially the shape of semi-ring 2, connected to another flat portion 3. Part 3 forms a flat portion of the outer surface. In order to obtain the necessary flexibility, the width L of the flat part of the outer profile surface should be no more than two heights H of the profile, but not less than one and the half of the height H. The profile can be made of high-density polyethylene (PE 80, PE 100) or polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadienestyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate or any other thermoplastic material. Depending on the profile destination, it is produced and wound with its flat surface facing downwards (for further use to form the inner surface of the product, as shown in FIG. 2) or upwards (for future use to form the outer surface of the product, as shown in FIG. 3). To provide greater strength or certain properties, such as protection against abrasion, weathering, UV radiation, etc., an additional layer 4 or 5 of a material with appropriate properties is applied on a flat portion of the outer profile surface by co-extrusion. For example, to create an additional conductive layer, conductive fillers containing metal particles or polymers, like polyacetylene, polythiophene, polyaniline or ionomers containing alkali metals and ions of alkali metals are added to the base material of the profile. To strengthen the flat part of the outer surface of the additional layer 5 and protect it from mechanical damage, it is covered by an extra layer of base material with additives in the form of mineral microparticles or, if coextrusion or bonding between the profile material and an additional layer is possible, then a separate layer shall be applied. Thus, if the flat outer profile surface should meet the antiadhesive requirements or have a low friction coefficient, or be resistant to UV radiation, than polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) shall be added to an additional layer 5 of material; if the surface should be slip-resistant, weather-resistant and light-resistant, an additional layer of material may comprise a polymeric material Polistone G Pipe Grande; if it is desired to eliminate sticking, e.g. in silos, they may perform an additional layer of high-molecular polyethylene Matrox. The profile can contain more than one additional layers of material, depending on the required properties of the products.

[0050] A single-layered spiral-welded product as shown in FIG. 4 is produced by winding the above described profile 1 with an additional layer of material 4 using special rollers in a spiral to the size of the required product diameter. A profile is tightly wound with a special drum. At that, a profile is put in the winding device so that a flat part 3 of the outer surface of the profile was oriented inside the product. Tightly wound coils face each other and form an internal surface of a product in the wound condition. They are welded together from the outside using the double weld 6. A product can be welded by a heated tool, hot air, extruded melt and the like. As a result, the product has a smooth, flat surface, roughness of which is several times lower than the roughness of all known analogues. In addition, due to application of the additional layer 4 on a flat surface 3, a flat profile surface gets the new necessary properties. As compared to the prototype, a product has the lower consumption of material for welding, is more lightweight and requires less cost. It may be welded by one head, as requires only the external welding. The product is easy to produce in the field, as the profile flexibility is almost double the flexibility of a ring profile.

[0051] A single-layered spiral-welded product as shown in FIG. 5 is produced using the same technology. A profile has an additional protective layer 5 of material. When winding, a profile is put in the winding device so that a flat portion 3 of the outer surface of the profile was oriented outwards.

[0052] Double-layered products, as shown in FIG. 6, are formed of two identical profiles 1 as described above, each of which has an additional protective layer 4 or 5. This product can be used as a pipe for water supply systems (sewer and water supply), for production of polyethylene water supply wells, reservoirs for drinking water and so on. A lower profile forms a spiral to the size of the required internal diameter of the product; it is tightly wound. At that, a profile shall be set on rollers so that its flat part was inverted inside the coil at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube created. An upper profile is wound above the lower one in 200-300 mm in length of the first layer of the wound profile, with the axial displacement by half the width of the lower profile coil. At that, a flat part of the upper profile is oriented upwards. At the same time, they heat the profile surface and fully weld together adjacent coils of one profile and a coil of another profile, which is located between adjacent coils. Welding is carried out by impregnating extruded polymer mass 6 between coils under pressure. Welding can be done in various ways: by a heated tool, extruder etc. The specific feature of a product is that welds are located inside the product walls. Thus they make a product with two smooth surfaces; each surface is covered with a protective layer having the desired properties for the product. A profile is made to comply with the required ratio of the flat outer surface to the profile height, as a result of which the ring stiffness of a product is satisfactory, with reduced wall thickness of the product. Compared to a single-layered profile with a ring cross-section at the same SDR 11, wall thickness 5 mm, the same radius R 25 mm, and a ratio

[00009]$\frac{L}{H}=2$

in a semi-ring profile, me wall thickness of a product made of two semi-ring profiles is 1.2 times less than the thickness of a single-layered product. Products made of a semi-ring profile are more technological. At their welding on site, consumption of the welding material, respectively, energy, water, technology, etc. is 2.5 times less as compared to manufacturing of a ring profile. Flexibility of a semi-ring profile is twice as much as the tubular profile flexibility; length of a profile in a coil is almost twice as much. Therefore, there are less welded joints along the pipe length, the pipe quality is higher. The protective coating gives the extra product strength and resistance to external influences. Thus, it was found that adding mineral particles to a polypropylene additional layer 4 or 5 increases the hardness of an additional layer as compared to polyethylene PE 100 in three times.

[0053] A double-layered spiral-welded product of the third variant has a smooth flat surface formed by profile 1 and another surface formed by a circular tubular profile 7. It may have an internal flat surface as shown in FIG. 7, or can be made with a smooth outer surface as shown in FIG. 8. It may have a protective coating 4 of the flat surface inside the product, may have a protective coating 5 of flat surface on the product outside. They form a product similar to that described above.

[0054] A tree-layered spiral-welded product of the fourth variant is formed of two profiles 1 and one intermediate profile 7 having a ring cross-section. A product is made as described above. Profiles 7 can be wound in the product as much as necessary to obtain the desired wall thickness and ring stiffness. It is possible to produce a product with the outer radius R of semi-ring cross-section of profiles 1 equal to the radius R] of a ring of the intermediate profiles 7, as shown in FIG. 10. If it is required to reduce the wall thickness and preserve its ring stiffness, the external radius R] of a ring cross-sectional of an intermediate profile 7 may be equal to half the radius R, as shown in FIG. 9. If there are two intermediate profiles, any of them may have the reduced radius of a cross-section, either upper or lower intermediate profile; if there are three or more profiles, than the next nearest profile may have the reduced radius of a cross-section: either even or odd ones. Similarly to the above described embodiments, the fourth variant of the product has a protective coating 4 of a flat surface inside the product, and a protective coating 5 of the outer surface. They form and weld product similar to that described above.

[0055] New product variants have flat smooth surfaces; their roughness is significantly reduced compared to existing analogues; smooth surface profiles make it possible to obtain smooth protective coating, which expands the possibility of their use. Specifically, for example, applying a protective coating with antibacterial material TroBlok on the flat surface prevents formation of microbes, bacteria, viruses, and molds on its walls. A product becomes the first-choice product for making reservoirs and pipelines for the storage and supply of drinking water in areas with water shortage. Products may have different diameters, different number of layers or various ring stiffness. They are simple and the technological in use and application, consume less material and are lightweight.